Analysis of the Impact of "Self-Love" Content on Tiktok Social Media on the Behavior of Gen Z

Authors

  • Nurhikma Communication Studies, Universitas Pancasakti Makassar, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37899/mjds.v3i2.343

Keywords:

Behavioral Change, Digital Culture, Generation Z, Self-Awareness, Self-Identity, Self-Love Content

Abstract

This study examines the role of self-love content on TikTok in shaping self-identity, self-awareness, motivation, and behavioral outcomes among Generation Z in Manggala District, Makassar City. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation involving ten active TikTok users selected through purposive sampling. The findings reveal that self-love content contributes positively to self-awareness, self-acceptance, confidence, motivation, and self-care practices. Participants reported becoming more reflective about their emotions, personal values, and life goals after repeated exposure to self-love narratives. However, the findings also indicate potential negative consequences, including social comparison and emotional dependence on digital validation. The novelty of this study lies in its exploration of self-love content as an algorithmically mediated mechanism that influences both psychological development and behavioral transformation. The study highlights the importance of promoting digital literacy and critical content engagement to maximize the benefits of self-love content while minimizing its potential risks for young social media users.

References

Ahmed, S. K. (2024). The pillars of trustworthiness in qualitative research. Journal of medicine, surgery, and public health, 2, 100051. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.glmedi.2024.100051

Appel, H., Marker, C., & Gnambs, T. (2023). Are social media ruining our lives? A review of meta-analytic evidence. Review of General Psychology, 27(1), 60–74. https://doi.org/10.1177/1089268019880891

Beyens, I., Pouwels, J. L., van Driel, I. I., Keijsers, L., & Valkenburg, P. M. (2024). Social media use and adolescents’ well-being: Developing a nuanced understanding of social media effects. Current Opinion in Psychology, 57, 101792. https://doi.org/10.1177/00936502211038196

Boer, M., Stevens, G. W. J. M., Finkenauer, C., de Looze, M. E., & van den Eijnden, R. J. J. M. (2025). Social media use, self-esteem, and adolescent mental health: Emerging evidence from longitudinal studies. Journal of Adolescent Health, 76(2), 145–153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2020.106645

Charmaraman, L., Grossman, J. M., Richer, A. M., & Erkut, S. (2023). Identity development in the digital age: Social media and adolescent self-concept. Youth & Society, 55(5), 834–852. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-1856-3.ch001

Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches (4th ed.). Sage Publications.

Duong, H. L., & Vo, T. K. O. (2025). How do young users perceive and respond to AI-generated short-form videos? An exploration of Generation Z’s perceptions, emotional responses, and trust in AI-created video on social media platforms. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 103660.

Frison, E., Dekkers, A., & Eggermont, S. (2022). Exploring the role of social media in adolescents’ self-esteem and emotional well-being. Computers in Human Behavior, 129, 107166.

Gautam, A., & Nainwal, R. (2025). Framing the self: Media’s role in shaping individual and collective identity. International Journal of Advanced Mass Communication and Journalism, 6(2), 113-120. https://doi.org/10.22271/27084450.2025.v6.i2b.126

Gupta, U., Sharma, M. N., Rawat, K. P., Sriram, N., Kumar, A., & Kumar, U. (2025). Understanding the Impact of Social Media Algorithms on Teenagers’ Brain and Emotions: A Cross-Field Approach. International Journal of Environmental Sciences, 11(22s), 2025. https://doi.org/10.64252/vmap3080

Hemberg, J., Sundqvist, A., Korzhina, Y., Östman, L., Gylfe, S., Gädda, F., ... & Nyman-Kurkiala, P. (2024). Being young in times of uncertainty and isolation: adolescents’ experiences of well-being, health and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 29(1), 2302102. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2024.2302102

Lim, J. H., Ahmad, M. B., & Prihadi, K. D. (2024). New media literacy, self-acceptance, and psychological flexibility in enhancing Gen Z wellbeing. Psychology, Society & Education, 16(3), 10-19. https://doi.org/10.21071/pse.v16i3.17235

Lim, W. M. (2025). What is qualitative research? An overview and guidelines. Australasian marketing journal, 33(2), 199-229. https://doi.org/10.1177/14413582241264619

Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic Inquiry. Sage Publications.

Lu, Y., Ding, X., & Lin, Y. (2026). How TikTok Influences Gen Z's Consumer Decisions: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 50(3), e70206. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.70206

Makanjuola, T. (2024). Content Recommendation Algorithm: Assessing Ethical Implications and their Impacts on Users’ Trust–An Investigation of Digital Media Platforms. Available at SSRN 5245835. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.29535.78241

Merino, M., Tornero-Aguilera, J. F., Rubio-Zarapuz, A., Villanueva-Tobaldo, C. V., Martín-Rodríguez, A., & Clemente-Suárez, V. J. (2024, July). Body perceptions and psychological well-being: a review of the impact of social media and physical measurements on self-esteem and mental health with a focus on body image satisfaction and its relationship with cultural and gender factors. In Healthcare (Vol. 12, No. 14, p. 1396). MDPI. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12141396

Monaro, S., Gullick, J., & West, S. (2022). Qualitative data analysis for health research: A step-by-step example of phenomenological interpretation. Qualitative Report, 27(4), 1040-1057. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2022.5249

Naslund, J. A., Bondre, A., Torous, J., & Aschbrenner, K. A. (2022). Social media and mental health: Benefits, risks, and opportunities for research and practice. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, 7(2), 245–257. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-020-00134-x

Nassif, S. A., & Ben Moussa, M. (2024). Algorithm literacy among youth: Understanding and navigating social media algorithms. The Egyptian Journal of Media Research, 89, 33-72.

Nesi, J., Choukas-Bradley, S., & Prinstein, M. J. (2023). Transformation of adolescent peer relations in the social media context. Current Opinion in Psychology, 52, 101633. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-018-0261-x

Odgers, C. L., & Jensen, M. R. (2024). Annual research review: Adolescent mental health in the digital age. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 65(1), 3–28. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13190

Orben, A., & Przybylski, A. K. (2023). Social media’s enduring effect on adolescent life satisfaction. Nature Human Behaviour, 7(8), 1251–1260. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1902058116

Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods (4th ed.). Sage Publications.

Pedalino, F., & Camerini, A. L. (2022). Instagram use and body dissatisfaction: The mediating role of upward social comparison with peers and influencers among young females. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(3), 1543. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031543

Pertiwi, E., & Sanusi, A. P. (2023). Storytelling in the digital age: Examining the role and effectiveness in communication strategies of social media content creators. Palakka: Media and Islamic Communication, 4(1), 25-34. https://doi.org/10.30863/palakka.v4i1.5082

Pretorius, C., Chambers, D., & Coyle, D. (2022). Young people’s online help-seeking and mental health support through social media. Internet Interventions, 28, 100536. https://doi.org/10.2196/13873

Radovic, A., Gmelin, T., Stein, B. D., & Miller, E. (2023). Mental health support through digital platforms: Opportunities and challenges for adolescents. JMIR Mental Health, 10, e41277.

Raghunathan, S., & Kumar, R. (2025, November). Emotion Driven Music Recommendation System: A Practical Approach to Enhance User Experience. In 2025 International Conference on Intelligent Systems and Pioneering Innovations in Robotics and Electric Mobility (INSPIRE) (pp. 738-743). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/INSPIRE67328.2025.11300485

Rideout, V., & Fox, S. (2023). Digital well-being and youth engagement with online emotional support. New Media & Society, 25(9), 2281–2298.

Ruan, Q. N., Shen, G. H., Yang, J. S., & Yan, W. J. (2023). The interplay of self-acceptance, social comparison and attributional style in adolescent mental health: cross-sectional study. BJPsych Open, 9(6), e202. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2023.594

Ruan, T., Liu, Q., & Chang, Y. (2025). Digital media recommendation system design based on user behavior analysis and emotional feature extraction. Plos one, 20(5), e0322768. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0322768

Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2020). Self-Determination Theory: Basic Psychological Needs in Motivation, Development, and Wellness. Guilford Press.

Shamsuddin, A. S., & Azman, E. A. (2025). The Impact of TikTok Video Advertisements on Generation Z's Purchase Intentions: Emotional, Entertainment, and Informative Dimensions. Journal of Contemporary Management Studies, 1(1), 13-23. https://doi.org/10.11113/

Shatara, K. F., Maghfiroh, A., Asiyah, S., Atiek, D., & Indriastuti, N. R. (2024). ThewizardLiz Motivational Content Analysis on YouTube: The Impact of Personal Branding and Presentation Style on Audience Engagement. Jurnal Keilmuan Dan Keislaman, 289-298. https://doi.org/10.23917/jkk.v3i4.415

Stahl, C. C., & Literat, I. (2023). # GenZ on TikTok: the collective online self-portrait of the social media generation. Journal of youth studies, 26(7), 925-946. https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2022.2053671

Tajik, O., Golzar, J., & Noor, S. (2025). Purposive sampling. International Journal of Education & Language Studies, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.22034/ijels.2025.490681.1029

Tamba, G. I., & Iancu, I. (2023). Emerging Adults and the Use of Textual Digital Communication: A Reflection on Self-Esteem, Loneliness, Anxiety, and Wellbeing. Research in Social Sciences and Technology, 8(1), 31-50. https://doi.org/10.46303/ressat.2023.3

Tariq, A., Gray, E., Gregory, A. M., & Chan, S. W. (2025). Emotional Vulnerability in Adolescents (EVA) Longitudinal Study: Identifying individual differences in symptoms of adolescent depression and anxiety and their biopsychosocial mechanisms based on demographic and mental health characteristics. Wellcome Open Research, 9, 510. https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.22685.2

Uhls, Y. T., Ellison, N. B., & Subrahmanyam, K. (2021). Benefits and costs of social media in adolescence. Pediatrics, 148(1), e2021051480. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-1758e

Valkenburg, P. M., Meier, A., & Beyens, I. (2022). Social media use and its impact on adolescent well-being: A review of the evidence. Current Opinion in Psychology, 44, 58–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.08.017

Verduyn, P., Ybarra, O., Résibois, M., Jonides, J., & Kross, E. (2022). Do social network sites enhance or undermine subjective well-being? A critical review. Social Issues and Policy Review, 16(1), 274–302. https://doi.org/10.1111/sipr.12033

Vogel, E. A., Ramo, D. E., Rubinstein, M. L., & Delucchi, K. L. (2023). Positive online content and youth psychological well-being: A systematic review. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 26(7), 463–472.

Wang, Y., Yan, X., Liu, L., Lu, X., Luo, L., & Ding, X. (2024). The Influence of Vulnerable Narcissism on Social Anxiety among Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Self-Concept Clarity and Self-Esteem. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 26(6). https://doi.org/10.32604/ijmhp.2024.050445

Downloads

Published

2026-06-12